Charles King and Chris Hays talk about the recruiting of Oak Ridge players, Gage Bostwick's commitment and Robbie Matey at Johns Hopkins

Charles King and Chris Hays talk about the recruiting of Oak Ridge players, Gage Bostwick's commitment and Robbie Matey at Johns Hopkins

Chris Hays | Florida RecruitingOrlando Sentinel

Nyqwan Murray has been one of the biggest storylines of the first half of the high school football season in Central Florida and now the Oak Ridge wide receiver has something to show for it.

Murray has helped the Pioneers to a 3-2 start and a 2-0 mark in Class 7A, District 4, and his efforts have paid dividends in the form of his first Football Bowl Subdivision scholarship offer. Cincinnati informed head coach Travis Gabriel on Tuesday that the Bearcats would like to extend an invitation to the junior prospect.

“It feels good to get my first offer. Coach is telling me now I just have to work harder so I can get some more,” Murray said.

The 6-foot, 170-pound Murray has turned into a human highlight reel during the first half of the season, making spectacular catches and impressive moves in turning short-yardage plays into long-gainer touchdowns.

“Shoot .. it’s great to throw a two-yard pass and he takes it to the house every time,” Oak Ridge quarterback Jerrell Antoine said of his receiver, one of several weapons the senior QB has at his disposal.

Murray, who has also been offered by Football Championship Subdivision member Florida A&M, has taken advantage of having the three-year starter Antoine at the helm.

“I gotta give credit to my quarterback,” said Murray, whose friends and family call him ‘Noonie,’ although he says he doesn’t know the origin of the nickname .

“We have a great quarterback. He’s the best in the state.”

Big words in a big football state, but the Oak Ridge receivers truly believe in Antoine and the chemistry is obvious. Murray has turned his opportunities into big plays and he’s caught 33 passes 648 yards and eight touchdowns, an average of about seven catches and 130 yards a game, and at a whopping 20 yards per catch.

“We have amazing athletes on this team,” Murray said, deflecting the praise from himself, but he did acknowledge that he thought an offer might be coming.

“Coach said early last week they were going to check out my film,” Murray said of the Bearcats’ staff. “They checked it out today and they offered me. A lot of other schools have shown interest … South Carolina is close to offering me, real close, and then Ohio State, Florida … Florida coach called me over the weekend and South Carolina coach Steve Spurrier Jr., and UCF is about to offer me too.”

His abilities make him an attractive prospect, but his on-field talent isn’t the only thing schools. Murray carries a 3.6 GPA and that makes his game-time numbers even more impressive. Schools like prospects about whom they do not have to worry academically, and Murray provides the whole package.

“I feel good about it but it just motivates me," said Murray, who is ranked No. 22 in the Sentinel's 2015 Central FLorida Super60, for which the first update will be made Friday morning. "I knew I was going to get something sooner or later from somewhere, just by working hard and playing good … and of course with my quarterback, people need to notice my quarterback, too.”

Yes, just another trait for schools to latch onto. Murray is selfless and that, too, is hard to find.